CORACIyE 207 



externus is present in Eurystomus, represented by a ligament 

 in Coracias. The deep flexor tendons are of type V., where 

 the two tendons blend before the four branches are given off 

 to the toes, ^oth peroneals are present. The carotids of the 

 Coraciidse are two. In Leptosomus I^oebes found that the 

 two arteries run up close together, but ar6 not fused in the 

 hypapophysial canal. He thinks that they may be, Ijke 

 those of Bucorvus,^ no longer functional as blood vessels. 



The syrinx of the Coraciidse is quite typically tracheo- 

 bronchial. In C. garrulus the intrinsic muscles are attached 

 to the first bronchial semi-ring. These semi-rings are ossified ; 

 the rest of the bronchial semi-rings are more slender and not 



Fig. 97. — Syeinx or Leptosomus (after Fobbes). The Left- 

 hand FlOUEE PKOM IN FeONT, THE KiGHT PBOM BEHIND. 



ossified. In Eurystomus the only difference is in the fact that 

 the three semi-rings following the first are closely attached to 

 it and to each other, and appear to be ossified ; after these 

 are the broader soft cartilaginous semi-rings. The syrinx of 

 Leptosomus (fig. 97) is rather different ; it appears to be 

 an extreme development of the type found in Eurystomus. 

 The first three bronchial semi-rings, like the last tracheal 

 rings, are ossified ; the first of them appears to be nearly, if 

 not quite, a complete ring. The fourth and the succeeding 

 semi-rings are cartilaginous ; to the former are attached the 

 intrinsic muscles. In the commencing formation of a 

 'bronchial syrinx' Leptosomus evidently gives a hint of 

 cuckoo affinities, to which group, however, its structure in 

 general does not incline. 



There are fourteen cervical vertehrce in Leptosomus, 



' Cf. p. 215. 



